[Barry Abrams]

I'm looking for a cnc kit that matches my criteria. I'm a noobie to the CNC world, so I don't know a lot of the terminology yet, but I'm eager to learn.

I'm looking for something appropriate for cutting lumber mostly. MDF, various grades of plywood and hardwood. I'll be using it for making cabinets, tables, etc, so the accuracy would need to be within about 1/64th of an inch. I don't plan on ever using it on a day-to-day use. I'd imagine about 3-5 hours a week.

I doubt I'd ever use it for any kind of aluminum or metal, but if I can, I'd love to use it to cut heavy upholstery vinyl. The type of faux leather used for couches and other furniture (probably about 2-3mm thick). I'm sure a router could handle it, but is there some sort of knife blade that would work?

I have access to a table saw, miter saw and various hand tools. I don't have a drill press, band saw, or planer. I do have the brain and the drive for building something myself, but I'd prefer a kit.

I was looking at the blacktoe machine from buildyourcnc.com, and it looked to fit my needs until I started searching for it on this forum and saw the mostly negative reviews. Those reviews lead me to the fine line automation kits (Blog : Fine Line Automation) as a better alternative. The prices for these seem about the top end on what I'd want to spend.

I've got a computer I can use for it, and I know my way around circuit boards, etc.

[Walky]

As fas as I've read around here, things seem to be more or less like this:

FLA = Good machines, but parts can take months to arrive and there doesn't seems to be a lot of communication when that happens.
Blacktoe = Medium-light duty machines, low precision (chain), but I think still easily within the 1/64th you're asking for.
CNC Router Parts = Only read good things about them! (FLA gets their stuff from them, IIRC).
Probotix = I got some drivers from them some time ago and got excellent customer support when I had any questions.


I wouldn't ever try to cut vinyl with anything but a swiveling or tangential knife, I foresee a disaster trying to cut that kind stuff with a rotary tool, possibly a broken bit after the material get caught and wraps around the spinning bit (not that I have ever tried it, though).

[Barry Abrams]

Thanks! I'll check out the probotix and cnc router parts one. the cnc router parts one looks a lot like the fine line machine, but it's a bit cheaper. and i'd probably get it sooner.

Searching for "tangential knife" led me for exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! Knowing the terminology is half the battle, I guess.

[ger21]

CNC RouterParts makes the parts that FLA sells.